AUSTRALASIAN PACIFIC MAIL STEAMPACKET COMPANY.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 675, 2 October 1852, Page 2

AUSTRALASIAN PACIFIC MAIL STEAMPACKET COMPANY.

To be incorporated by Royal Charter, limiting the liabilities of the shareholders to the amount subscribed. Provisionally registered, May, 1852, pursuant to the Act 7 nnd 8 Victoria, cap. 1 10. Capital £250,000, in "25,000 siiare3 of £\0 each. Deport £1 per share. Calls of £l per share to be made at intervals of not less (ban two months. Provisional Co.mmiitee. William Bates, Esq., deputy-chairman Pacific Steam Navigation Company George, Best, Esq., Eastbury, Guild ford James Bishop, Esq., Crescent, Minories Andrew Colville, Esq., Chairman Royal Mail S. P. Company Captain Cbappell, R.N., 55, Moorgate-street Alexander Currie, Esq., Director of the New Zealand Company I. B. Elkin, Esq., Moorgate-street Colonel Henderson, Director of the South Western Railway George Hibbert, Esq., Director of Royal Mail Steam Packet Company William Just, Esq., Managing Director Pacific Steam Navigation Company R. Lowe, Esq., 6, Eaton Square G. Malcom, Esq., Chairman Pacific Steam Navigation Company Captain C. E. Mangles, Director Royal Mail S P. Co., and Union Bank Australia. Ross D. Mangles, Esq., M.P., London Captain Christopher Nelson, Denmark-hill John Sivewright, Esq., Braziers, Wallingford Thomas Smith, Esq., Director North-Western and South- Western Railways | Captain Scott, H.E I.C.N.S. St. John's Wood Charl s Turner, Esq., Director Pacific Steam Navigation Company J. Ruddell Todd, Esq., Director Union Bank of Australia, nnd South Australian Company Captain Whish, R.N., Cumberland street, Portmansquare Henry H. Willis, Eaq., Crosby-square John Young, Esq. (Lloyds), Director, Southampton Docks Alexander Young, Esq., King William-street Solicitors — Messrs. Crowder and Maynard Secretary (pro tern.) — Champion Wetton, Esq. Bankers— Messrs. Smith, Payne, and Smiths. It is proposed to organize this Company by a Royal Charter of Incorporation, under the title of '' The Australasian Pacific Mail Steam-Packet Company," and to conduct its operation by means of first-class iron vessels, of not less than 1200 tons and 250-horse auxiliary power, respectively, maintaining a monthly communi cation between Panama and Sydney (touching at the Society Islands and New Zealand), in connexion with the vessels of the Royal Mail Company, the Pacific Steam Navigation Company and the United States Mail Steam-Packet Company, running between Calfornia and Panama. The object of the promoters ia to convey passengers, mails, gold, and other valuable merchandize, by this — the shortest — route between England and Australasia, on the cheapest terms consistent with a fair remuneration to the shareholders ; not only because its promoten are convinced that such rapidity and certainty of intercommunication is essential, both to the due development of the noble colonies of the Crown in the southern hemisphere, and to maintaining a close bond of union between those colonies and the mother country, but becausa it appears clear to them that these important ends cannot be effectually and permanently secured by any measures which shall not give to Sydnoy, the capital of those seas, as well as the seat of the supreme government, that pre-emineace of advantage from the establishment of steam-packets which is justly her due, but which other schemes have denied her. '1 he important colonies, Launceston, Hobart Town, Melbourne, and Port Adelaide, nre already enjoying the full benefits of a regular steam communication with Sydney; and care will be tal<en to cooperate with those .steam companies already on the different stations, so as to secure to this company the full advantages of that connexion. Passengers from England will reach Chagres by the vessels of the Royal Mail Steam-Packet Company, in nineteen days. By the time that the operations of this company are matured, the railway across the Isthmus, now in course of construction, will be so far completed as to admit of the transit from sea to sea being made, without risk or fatigue, in a few hours. For the passage across the Pacific, every care will be taken to provide suitable vessels, and machinery well adapted for attaining a high degree of speed, so as to insure the quickest practicable communication, which will be much facilitated by the moderate character of the winds prevailing in the Pacific Ocean. Assuming an average of nine knots an hour (a rate of speed which, under the circumstances, may fairly be expected) the run will be accomplished in about 38 days, making an aggregate of about 58 days from Southampton to Sydney By the adoption of the Panama route, New Zealand and the whole of the Australian colonies will be brought into direct and rapid communication, not only with the mother country and Europe, but also with the United States, Central and South America, California, and the South Sea Islands. It has been clearly shown, in evidence before the Select Committee of 1851, that the extent of trade and shipping between those places and the colonies is at present very considerable, and greatly on the inerease — far exceeding, in importance to the colonies, that of the trade and shipping with India and China. The Panama route is the only one that embraces a rapid mail service between the mother country and New Zealand, and this is not only without detriment, but with great advantage to the Australian colonies. There is, as has been satisfactorily established before the Select Committee, an imuor ant and rapidly increasing commercial intercourse between New Zealand and Austra'ia. As no arrangement appears to have been inide for the transmission, under contract, of the mail* to and from New Zealand, it is reasonable to expect that when the Company is in a position to negociate, a subsidy will at once be granted to it by the Government for the regular conveyance of those mails. Tahiti will also supply a proportion of the passengers and letters to be carried by the Company ; and negociations will be immediately entered into with the French Government to secure their co-operation and support. This route will tend to the greater encouragement of Br.tish entei prise and the better protection of British interest in the Pacific; and, although the Company has not f-ntered into a contract with Her Mnjesty's Government for the conveyance of mails between Austi aha nnd the mother country, yet, as no doubt is entertained that public opinion, both here and in the colonies, will stamp it as the one that ought to be adopted for correspondence, the pr >moters are satisfied that when the advantages of the line are fairly developed, Her Majesty's Government will see the necessity, upon public , grounds, of making a reasonable grant for the convey- i ance of the Australian ma la. It is believed that the gold of Australia will be generally transmitted by this line, which, together with the number of passengers that such a traffic necessarily draws in its train, cannot fail to produce profits similar to those reaped by the owners of the steam vessels plying between Panama and California, although exposed to the keenest competition. Fiom calculations that have been entered into, the piomoteis feel every reason to be satisfied with the prospects of the proposed undertaking, and they theretore unhesitatingly recommend it to the intention of , the public. Ah, however, there exists a strong feeling

in farour of restricted liability, the Provisional Com. nr.ttee deem it indispensable that a Royal Charier be procured With tins view ati immediate application wi 11 be made to Her Majesty's Government, w huh they Lave every reason to believe will be attended with success. Applications for shares to be made to the Secretary, at (he Company's Offices, 50, Moorgute-stieet, London. London, May, 18J2.

The following orders Imve been issued by the Adtni r.ilty on salvage claims for assistance rendered by lier Majesty's ships to vessels in danger or distress: — " 1. That all officers m command of her Majesty's ships are as heretofore, to affoid every possible aid (o vessels in danger, dis ress, or in want of casual assistnnce; and no claims for salvrge are to be raised for such assistance unless really important servio- s, or sen ices accompanied uiih hazard, have been rendered to sucb vessels. 2. When such serrices have been rendered, the commandnig officer of the ship is to transmit a full report of the whole circumstances of the case, with a copy of the ship's log, to the commander-in-ouief, or senior naval officfrr of the station, whose written approval shal be requisite before any officer under his command can raise a claim for salvage; and such approv.il is not to be given unless really important service, or service nccompanied with hazard, has been rendered. 3. In cases where relays of men are sent for the purpose of affoidmg assistance, and where a large portion ofthe crew ba>> been employed, the salvage which may be awarded is lo be distributed according to the provisions of the prize proclamation in force at the time, unless specially apportioned by the terms of any decree or nward, or otherwise to be divided among the parties actually employed, as my Lords Commissioners of the Admiraliy may direct. 4. All officers are 1 to use their best efforts to saye and protect property and stores, especially those belonging to the Crown, which may be onboard any vessel placed in circumstances of danger or dutresa ; and, if necessary, to remove such stores to a place of safety. 5. Commanders-in-chief, or senior officers in command, are to report all cases of assistance rendered, or all claims raised, to the Secretary of the admiralty." The circular is addressed to " All Coru-manders-in CLief, Captains, Commanders, and Commanding Officers of her Majesty's Ships and Vessels. — Economist, March 6.